The Electoral Court of the Federal District granted provisional freedom to Eurípedes Júnior, former president of Solidariedade, who had been arrested as part of Operation Fundo do Poço, launched by the Federal Police (PF) to investigate the misappropriation of party and electoral funds in the former Republican Party of Social Order (Pros).
Eurípedes is a defendant in the case, having been accused of embezzling R$36 million from Pros. The investigations began with accusations made by Marcus Vinicius Chaves de Holanda, the former president of the party who had been involved in a dispute for leadership of the party. Pros ended up being incorporated into Solidariedade last year.
When releasing Eurípedes, Judge Lizandro Garcia Gomes Filho, of the 1st Electoral Zone of the Federal District, determined alternative measures, such as the use of an electronic ankle bracelet and a ban on communicating with the other suspects.
The Electoral Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPR) denounced Eurípedes as the leader of the criminal organization, which also included his wife, two daughters, a brother, a sister-in-law, a cousin and the cousin’s wife. The scheme allegedly involved a party foundation and money laundering through the negotiation of real estate and overpriced legal consultancy services.
The former party leader was arrested on June 15, after spending three days on the run. At the time, he requested an indefinite leave from the presidency of Solidariedade. The party released a statement stating that the facts under investigation predate the union with Pros.
“Practically all of the accusations made by the Public Prosecutor’s Office were grounded in the defense presented recently, so that release was the only measure expected,” said Eurípedes’ defense, in a statement. He is represented by lawyers Fábio Tofic and José Eduardo Cardozo.
